IHSAA reverses earlier decision to move all boys golf to fall season

BOONE — The Iowa High School Athletic Association has reversed an earlier decision that would have moved boys golf in Classes 1A, 2A and 3A to the fall starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

The IHSAA and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union back in August made the decision to move boys golf and girls tennis to the fall. The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control voted 5-3 during their meeting on Thursday to postpone any change in golf seasons for the foreseeable future.

Board chair Dr. Andy Crozier, who is the superintendent at Central Lee, said in a written statement that the board considered the feedback from their member schools and the board ultimately decided it was worth reconsidering their initial vote. He says it became clear that there were too many obstacles that need to be resolved in the short-term to make that change for the 2025-2026 school year.

The change was approved in August as a way to reduce spring schedule congestion for school activities and improve the student-athlete experience, including with weather in the early season. Since then, the Iowa High School Athletic Association says their numerous committees and school feedback structures often cited challenges with small school participation in fall sports, coaching conflicts, and golf course availability.

Class 4A schools have had the boys golf season in the fall since 1993 and Thursday’s decision does not impact those schools.